Thinking about a Kershaw

[Kronos]

hi all, im a long time lurker and occasional poster, but recently i've become more and more interested in kershaw knives. I have a scallion, a leek, and a chive that i enjoyed, but their recent offerings intrest me an awful lot. The only problem that i have with them is that i don't have a whole lot of faith in liner locks, and i am left handed. I suppose what i want to know is 1. how lefty friendly are their linerlocks, and 2. what model would you reccomend for some pretty heavy duty use. I plan to put this knife in my turnout gear, so the lock is going to be in compromising situations sometimes, and that concerns me with a liner lock. And yes, i am going to be looking at the ZT line shortly, but i'd like to get my feet wet with a new, slightly less expensive, kershaw model

 

[spiralarchitect]

Most Kershaws are not drilled for lefthand carry but the ZT knives are. If you can get past that the liners are fine. I would go w/ the JYD II. It has lots of room between the liners to get to the lock and a nice thick lock to boot.

If you are looking for a really lefty friendly lock I think you should give the stud lock a look see. I think for a nice bargin price I would go with an aluminum handle Speed Bump for 50 ish bucks then send it off to STR or someone and get it set up for left hand carry, another 30 bucks or so.

If you can wait the RAM is coming and with its Hawk Lock it seems likely that it will be somewhat LH friendly.

Finally at about 120 bucks (see the BF Exchange) the ZT0200 has true ambi carry and a massive liner lock. For a lefty you really can't beat it. Just ask the Glockman.

 

[glockman99]

...Finally at about 120 bucks (see the BF Exchange) the ZT0200 has true ambi carry and a massive liner lock. For a lefty you really can't beat it. Just ask the Glockman.

Yup, I'd have to agree with myself on this one...Get yourself a ZT 0200...You WON'T be sorry, (unless you can't handle a large, heavy, heavy-duty folder..).

However, until you are ready to make the leap into the ZT knives, a Kershaw Cyclone would be a good chioce. I'm also a "lefty", so I took the pocket clip off of the one(s) that I carried, and carried 'em in a horizontal nylon pouch (which is the same way I'm packin' my monster of a ZT 0200). The liner-lock works ok for me.

 

[Joshua J.]

I'd say you have good reason to think twice about a liner lock.
Not that they're all bad, but frame locks and most other locks do not suffer as many problems as liner locks.
That said, knives with a big flipper are still passable and sometimes preferable regardless of lock type. My experience is with the Spyderco Chinook, I was foolishly testing the lock when it let go, all that happened was that the large choil bounced off my index finger.
A knife with a big flipper should do roughly the same thing, I consider it a safety feature as well as a good opening method.

I'd look at the Spec-Bump first, as it has an ambidextrous lock.

If that isn't sturdy enough the ZT0200 would be my next choice.

 

[Kronos]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I knew that Glockmann was the guy to talk to when it comes to lefthandedness issues . Anyway, i plan to pick up the 200 just as soon as funds allow. the issue as i see it though, is that once i started really looking at the kershaw knives, i realized i want them all. This could be a financial disaster.

 

[spiralarchitect]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I knew that Glockmann was the guy to talk to when it comes to lefthandedness issues . Anyway, i plan to pick up the 200 just as soon as funds allow. the issue as i see it though, is that once i started really looking at the kershaw knives, i realized i want them all. This could be a financial disaster.

It is but life goes on. Cowboy on up and cut out the non essentials. Meals, clothes, shoes, electric........you'll be fine as long as you always have a new knife in your pocket.